Chattanooga Times Free Press

› Field set for Monaco Grand Prix,

BY JEROME PUGMIRE

MONACO — Two-time reigning Formula One champion Max Verstappen produced a superb final lap during Monaco Grand Prix qualifying Saturday to deny Aston Martin veteran Fernando Alonso what would have been his first pole position in 11 years.

Verstappen called his first pole at Monaco “very lovely,” but there was nothing to cheer for his Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez, who crashed early in qualifying ahead of his attempt at repeating as the winner of the prestigious race.

Alpine’s Esteban Ocon surprisingly led near the end of the session before Alonso, the 41-year-old Spaniard who won consecutive F1 titles in 2005-06 and back-to-back Monaco GPs in 2006-07, moved back to the top of the board as he chased a first pole since the German GP in 2012, when he was with Ferrari.

Verstappen had other ideas, however, as he brushed the walls of the 2.074-mile sinewy street circuit to beat Alonso’s time by just 0.084 second and clinch his fourth pole of the season and 23rd of his career.

“I knew this weekend it was going to be tight,” the 25-yearold Dutch driver said. “I definitely pushed a bit harder.”

Alonso walked over to Verstappen and shook his hand afterward.

“Feels great. I always had confidence in what I could do,” Alonso said. “We’re starting on the front row in Monaco, so job done.”

Alonso has four third-place finishes in five races this season as he seeks his 33rd F1 victory but first since the 2013 Spanish GP. Verstappen joked that he’d try to help him finally win again.

“I’ll think about it. I’d like to see Fernando win, but I’d like to win myself,” Verstappen said. “I love watching his style.”

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc was chasing a third straight pole on his home circuit but wound up qualifying third, 0.106 behind Verstappen.

“I’ve been struggling like crazy with the car,” a disappointed Leclerc said. “That was the maximum I could do.”

And then he was handed a three-place grid penalty by race stewards for impeding McLaren’s Lando Norris. Race offiicials ruled Norris was on a fast lap and caught up with Leclerc in the middle of the tunnel, where he was clearly impeded. Stewards reviewed team radio and found Ferrari failed to give Leclerc any warning about Norris’ approach until the other driver was already directly behind him.

Saturday’s grid penalty moved Ocon up from fourth to third, while Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz Jr. improves to fourth and Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton — the seven-time F1 champ with three Monaco GP victories — bumps up to fifth. Leclerc, Pierre Gasly (Alpine), George Russell (Mercedes), Yuki Tsunoda (AlphaTauri) and Norris rounded out the top 10.

Perez, who has two wins this year, will start from the back. Regarded as one of F1’s best drivers on street circuits, he lost control of the rear of his car while entering the tight curve of Sainte-Devote too quickly, thudding into the barriers. When his left tire burst, it brought out a red flag.

Verstappen has won this season’s other three races in a dominant start for Red Bull and is first in the series standings, 16 points ahead of Perez, a gap that could significantly increase Sunday, when passing is likely to be difficult. After setting a record with 15 victories last season on the international open-wheel circuit, Verstappen is eager for continued success.

“I want to win more than 15 races,” he said. “Every year you try to do a little bit better. You just keep that pressure on yourself. It’s nice.”

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2023-05-28T07:00:00.0000000Z

2023-05-28T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://edition.timesfreepress.com/article/281943137258962

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